Market Pulse
Europe close: Stocks finish higher on strong PMI readings
Stocks on the Continent finished mostly higher on the back of strong survey readings on the euro area's manufacturing and services sector and ahead of the German general elections at the weekend, although fresh barbs from Pyongyang were a drag on sentiment.
Thousands of steel workers protest ThyssenKrupp merger in Germany
Thousands of steel workers gathered in Western Germany on Friday to protest the proposed merger of ThyssenKrupp and Tata Steel's European operations which was expected to result in approximately 4,000 job losses.
London Close: FTSE firmer as pound losses ground after May speech
London stocks had reversed earlier losses to trade a little higher by Friday's close, helped along by a weaker pound as investors weighed up a key speech by Prime Minister Theresa May.
JP Morgan Chase to establish global headquarters in Warsaw
Polish Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Friday that US bank JP Morgan Chase had picked Warsaw to play host to its new global operations centre, bringing thousands of jobs to the region from the beginning of 2018.
FTSE 250 movers: Pets at Home dashes higher, oilers also lifted
The FTSE 250 index was on the front foot on Friday, led by retailer Pets at Home and a group of oil-related companies.
Theresa May calls for post-Brexit transition period, new security treaty
In a speech in Florence on Friday, Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed that she wanted a two-year "implementation period" post-Brexit and a new treaty with the European Union on security and justice.
FTSE 100 movers: Johnson Matthey rallies again but Smiths drops on results
London's FTSE 100 was up 0. 6% to 7,305. 66 in afternoon trade on Friday as investors mulled over PM Theresa May's Brexit speech in Florence.
US economy shows resilience in face of hurricanes - Markit
Business activity in the US picked up in September despite hurricanes Harvey and Irma, as growth in the manufacturing sector helped to offset an easing in services, according to preliminary data released on Friday.
Thalassa suspends share buyback as FairfieldNodal commences due diligence
Thalassa Holdings confirmed the suspension of its share buyback programme on Friday, as a suitor continued to circle the marine geoscience and subsea robotics company.
US open: Wall Street recovers after initial dip
Wall Street has started the session slightly lower but was quickly recovering, following a threat from North Korea's top diplomatic official.
Central Asia Metals buying SASA mine in $403m deal
Central Asia Metals announced on Friday that it has conditionally agreed to purchase a 100% interest in Lynx Resources, the owner of the SASA zinc-lead mine in Macedonia, from Orion Co-Investments III and Fusion Capital for $402. 5m.
Verseon enters property-assessed clean energy programme
Technology-based pharmaceutical company Verseon announced on Friday that it is entering into a property-assessed clean energy (PACE) programme for its new facility in Fremont, California through its wholly-owned subsidiary VRH1.
DX Group enters sale-and-leaseback deal with ChanceryGate Livingston
DX Group announced on Friday that it has exchanged contracts with ChanceryGate Livingston to sell-and-leaseback certain freehold properties for an aggregate cash consideration of £4. 5m.
US trade chief criticises Mexico and Canada over imports
America's top trade official pointed to the declining share of US-made parts and components in imports from Canada and Mexico to justify the need to take a "fresh look" at the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Philips 66 announces asset sale to master limited partnership
Energy manufacturing and logistics firm Phillips 66 announced on Friday that it would be selling assets back to its master limited partnership (MLP), Phillips 66 Partners, as part of a deal worth $2. 4bn, including debt, making it the latter's biggest acquisition to date.
Morgan Stanley hikes target on Coca Cola HBC, notes M&A speculation
Analysts at Morgan Stanley revised their target price for CCH shares sharply higher, telling clients the improvement in the Coca Cola bottler's fundamental drivers looked "sustainable", while adding that its strategic optionality constituted an 'upside' risk for the shares.
Johnson Matthey forecasts for catalysts, electric batteries impresses analysts
After Johnson Matthey set out financial guidance at a capital markets day focused on growth opportunities ahead, analysts at Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse were among those to hike their expectations for the chemicals group.
Smiths saved by sterling boost, 'well positioned' for return to growth
Smiths Group reported a small decline in full year underlying revenue but 11% growth on a reported basis thanks to the weak pound and said strategic progress made in the year set it up to return to growth next year.
Sprint and T-Mobile said to agree tentative terms of merger
Shares in Sprint Corp rallied in pre-market trade following reports it is close to agreeing tentative terms of a deal to merge with T-Mobile.
Lufthansa, easyJet in talks to buy Air Berlin aviation business
Lufthansa and easyJet have been selected as possible buyers for the aviation business of Air Berlin, which filed for insolvency last month.